McAlinden report sent to police, inquiry told

Published: 31 July 2013

The former head of a Catholic Church unit set up to handle complaints of clerical child sexual abuse has rejected claims he did not send a complaint form about Fr Denis McAlinden to the police in 1999, reports The Newcastle Herald.

John Davoren, director of the church’s Professional Standards Office from its inception in 1997 until 2003, was questioned yesterday at the Special Commission of Inquiry into matters relating to the Police investigation of certain child sexual abuse allegations in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle.

After giving evidence-in-chief before senior counsel assisting the inquiry, Julia Lonergan, Mr Davoren was cross-examined by various counsel, including Wayne Roser for the NSW Police.

Mr Davoren 'categorically' denied that a clerical child sexual abuse form filled out in his name in relation to McAlinden was not sent to the police.